How did a thriving RAF station come to this? SIR - In all the brouhaha about the movement of Harrier servicing from St Athan to RAF Cottesmore, no seems to have asked or answered the question, Why? If Dara is the centre of excellence that it and its local MP say that it is, then why has the RAF taken its servicing back?

In the late '80s and early '90s, the RAF moved all fast-jet deep servicing to RAF St Athan which was then run by the RAF with an air commodore in command. It was truly a centre of excellence and the RAF benefited from the in-depth knowledge of engineering and flexibility of the station.

This latest move is another chapter in the unhappy history of civilian-managed servicing at St Athan.

The local MP, John Smith, shows a lamentable lack of knowledge about the RAF when he said in a TV interview that the RAF should not be servicing its own jets, but should be fighting. RAF engineers have been an important and integral part of the RAF since its inception in 1918 and they are trained to the highest standards to ensure that complex aircraft are ready to be flown in combat.

I am not suggesting that Dara necessarily has low standards - it shouldn't - but again, why did it lose the contract? What has happened that a thriving RAF station should come to this?

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Wentwood Drive, Llanvaches

Hunt film horror SIR - I was absolutely appalled at the gratuitous cruelty shown by members of the Plas Machynlleth Foxhounds on the film shown on Monday's BBC Wales News.

I should like to challenge the stereotypical view of the anti-hunt supporter as "the urban population" who "know nothing of the true facts". Many who object to this practice are country people born and bred, their objections based on the abuse of the defenceless.

OLGA CANNAN Milton Combe, Yelverton, Devon

Wrong target SIR - I see the Welsh-bashers are out in force again with their arsenal of clich s.

Take Elaine Lewis, who complains of the cost of bilingual forms - can she explain to us why those who complain about the alleged "cost" of Welsh never complain about the cost of anything else, such as war (it costs us #200m per month!), subsidising failing train companies, general bureaucracy, etc etc?

I worked in teaching and I can tell you that what affected us was bureaucracy, endless interference, lack of resources, and lack of respect. If the likes of Mrs Lewis want to do something useful they can write to the papers about that. They won't of course, because they're only interested in attacking Welsh.

P REES Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff

Don't forget Bangor SIR - Regarding your article by Sir John Cadogan on the future of chemistry as a subject at the University of Wales, Swansea, (March 20) while not wanting to involve myself in the internal politics of the University of Wales, Swansea, I applaud many of Sir John Cadogan's more general comments about the place of chemistry in higher education.

I would however, like to correct one factual oversight regarding the teaching of chemistry in Wales.

Wales does indeed have a higher education chemistry department west of Cardiff, at the University of Wales, Bangor, which although north of the M4 corridor is still in Wales and still west of Cardiff!

Our university has an excellent chemistry department that has taught the subject since 1884.

Listed among the top 10 chemistry departments in the UK by the Guardian (2003), awarded an "excellent" for the quality of its teaching, the department is justifiably proud of its strong record of research and collaboration with industry.

English lessons SIR - I read with interest Mario Basini's article raising the question of our attitude to the English.

I was born and bred in Wales and spent some years in England where I made many good friends. I have never felt inferior or superior to English people, only happily content with being Welsh.

That being said I do object to having my life dictated to by another country regardless of our wishes. I am old enough to remember clearly the years between 1979 and 1997 and the infliction upon us of 18 years of Thatcherism rule, the consequences of which we still suffer. My stance is not anti-English, but rather anger against any majority that inflicts its will upon a minority, without regard for its wishes. We may have things to learn from the English, especially the fact that we are vulnerable to their choices whatever they may be.

PS: I am aware many English people did not vote for Maggie.

HADRIAN EVANS Town Mill Road, Cowbridge

Chancellor's game SIR - Why the praise heaped on Gordon Brown? Think of him this way. You have a corner shop serving the only service/product in the country. No one is allowed to compete. Consequently, you can waste mountains of money and when a deficit occurs you simply up your charges.So no need to borrow, hence why does Brown borrow? No, its time to wake up to the Brown game.

C BINNING Lliswerry Road, Newport

Security lapse SIR - I have recently flown from both Cardiff and Bristol Airports.

The security at check-in and on entry to the air side of the respective airports was justifiably strict.

On entering the departure lounges and the shops I was astounded to say the least to see that passengers can easily purchase alcohol in glass bottles and perfume in vaporizer to carry on board the aircraft.

Isn't it about time that these highly paid security advisers at least made alcohol manufacturers put their products in plastic rather than glass bottles. A broken glass bottle could have far greater effects than a nail file.

PHILLIP BALL Upper Wood Street, Bargoed

Devolution by stealth SIR - I was intrigued by Martin Shipton's report on the possible outcome of the Richard Commission and the way this will be dealt with in Welsh political circles (The Western Mail, March 22).

If he is right, and he has an excellent track record on these matters, we are to have further devolution virtually by stealth, truly the slippery slope -i.e. "a gradual transfer of law-making powers from Westminster to Cardiff Bay over a number of years". This is apparently to ensure that the desired end is achieved but that no referendum is triggered to arouse any unpredictable popular debate, involvement or potential veto.

As a long-term advocate of devolution on functional rather than cultural grounds, I find the short-sightedness and careerism of many of its present proponents deplorable.

The necessary link between the elected and the electorate is at breaking point. Without such legitimacy no institution can survive, or indeed deserves to. This is surely the moment to open up the debate as widely as possible , not close it down?

RICHARD HARRIS Anglesey Court, Caerleon, Newport

Housing answer SIR - The answer to any supposed housing shortage in the UK is not to cover the entire country in Bovis homes but to renovate the 10% of the existing UK housing stock which is derelict. We must not let the insatiably greedy developers and their political placemen destroy the environment and with it our quality of life just so that they can fill their already bulging pockets to bursting.

DAVID LAYTON Portland Street, Abertillery

Employers' mistakes SIR - The poor quality of interview-ing by prospective employers (Lousy interview firms, The Western Mail, March 17) must be the reason why so many ill-qualified staff are employed.

In my last job - many moons ago! - I was thoroughly grilled on my education, qualifications, work experience, hobbies, and my reasons for seeking that particular job.

Judging from communications I receive from, as one example, local authorities, and responses to telephone inquiries in general, much needs to be done to ensure that interviews are conducted by professional, competent people so that they in turn employ professional, competent staff.

GLENYS JONES Wellington Road, Milford Haven

Illegal alien Celts SIR - As a Russian staying in Wales, I am frequently bemused by references in the media to "illegal aliens" especially as the first "illegal immigrants" to Britain were the Welsh, ie the Celts.

We know a lot about the Celts in Russia. They began in the Crimean Peninsula. We call this area "Crim" which is where the word "Cymru" comes from. They then began moving west, invading any territory they fancied, slaughtering the inhabitants and then claiming it for themselves.

The Celts have always been very tribal and have never been able to get along with the adjoining tribe. If Scotland and Ireland shared borders with Wales you would not be able to get along with them either.

The Celts first invaded Britain around 600BC. Three thousand years before that there was a civilisation in Britain that was advanced enough to build Stonehenge which meant that they had a knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. What happened to this people? They were wiped out by the Celts; they were "ethnically cleansed", their language was killed.

Please do not be sanctimonious about "illegal aliens" in the future because you Welsh were the first.